Author Updates

A friend told me, “I want to listen to the news and know what’s going on in the world, but it’s really hard listening when the news is all bad.” She’s not alone. But, what if there were a word game to play, something fun to do while listening to all that bad news? Fun and bad news. Total opposites! Somewhat similar to an oxymoron—a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. (organized mess, controlled chaos).
Without di

How do you view the world right now? For some, the world seems smaller as we weather this pandemic together. Others feel overwhelmed by a world filled with pain, suffering and conflicting information. Maybe everything that’s going on in the world right now is affecting your ability to write. If so, you are not alone.
When you quarantined at home, you celebrated having plenty of time to write. You set goals: I’m going to start writing my novel. I’m finally going to finish my novel. I’l

The Coronavirus has taken possession of the media causing writers all over the world to say they can’t settle their thoughts enough to write. Maybe you can relate. You sit down to write a piece of fiction, but the words won’t come. That’s okay! There’s something you can do right now to improve your fiction writing in the future:
Start a Coronavirus journal.
In fiction writing, thoughts lead characters to act. Your thoughts right now are likely all over the place! But if you ca

Hello friends! So, here we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. What effect will it have on writers?
If, like me, you are self-employed and working from home, it’s business as usual. Our clients who work in publishing are scrambling to transition from working in the office to working at home. That might slow communication a bit, but, for the most part, not much has changed.
For other writers, most are self-isolating at varying degrees.
Here are

A friend said to me recently, “I wanted to be a writer when I was young. I even studied journalism, but then life got in the way. Now, I’m too old to write.”
This woman is, let’s just say, older. We’re about the same age.
“You’re not too old to write!” I said. “I’m older—and I write.”
“But you’ve worked in publishing your whole adult life. It’s your career.”
Age should never deter a person from pursuing a dream. Whether it’s writing or anything else. But age m

It’s that time again when we look forward and consider what the new year will bring. We scribble in journals thoughts of the past and plans for the future. Maybe someday the words we write will be quoted along with the new year ponderings of these well-known authors:
Imagine the essayist, Hamilton Wright Mabie, in the late 19th century, alone in his study, the clock on the wall nearing midnight. He writes:
“New Year’s Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in th

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: A book contract under my tree!
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me: Two coffee mugs and A book contract under my tree!
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me: Three notebooks Two coffee mugs and A book contract under my tree!
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: Four museful quotes Three notebooks Two coffee m

Is your work in progress in a slump? Here are six techniques to help you come up with some fresh, new ideas.
1. Sniff Something! Your sense of smell connects directly to where your brain stores emotional memories. Think about smells you associate with specific events or people—your grandmother’s perfume for example, or a camping trip. Better yet, sniff things—herbs, spices, flowers, cologne. See if they evoke your own memories.
Visit some of these “smelly places” and think abo

The road to publication can be long, and most writer’s go through periods where they feel like giving up. Maybe that’s where you are right now.
So, ask yourself: “Why do I write?” If you write just to be published, then maybe your love for writing isn’t as strong as you think.
What does writing mean to you?
Anne Frank wrote to find comfort and strength: “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” C.S. Lewis saw writing as a

Answer: a runcible spoon! Just one of many made-up words and phrases coined by Edward Lear. “Higher-cynths” and “Lower-cynths” are two others.
Made-up words (nouns, verbs, modifiers) used sparingly can add speculation, surprise, poetry and humor to your writing. They work best in children’s books. Just be sure to use them in ways that provide readers with a sense of what they mean.
You can make up nonsense words:
“And oh, what a terrible country it is! Nothing but thic

Jesus is calling out to our hearts, and you can hear His voice in every story in the Bible. These carefully selected stories are paired with new children’s devotions from Sarah Young and will help young hearts understand God’s grand plan to send His Son, Jesus, to save His children and prepare a place for us in heaven.

Bestselling author Sarah Young has touched millions of lives through her devotionals based on Scripture and written as though Jesus is speaking directly to the reader. This book will lead God’s children, young and old, to talk to Jesus through prayer and to listen to His voice speaking love to their hearts.

Join the Camp Club Girls on a series of clue-filled adventures and cheer them on as they crack the case in this entertaining 3-in-1 story collection. Whether the Camp Club Girls are uncovering a decades-old mystery at Camp Discovery Lake, unraveling confusing clues in the nation’s capital, or solving a Wild West who-dun-it, you’ll encounter six charming characters who combine their mystery-solving skills to save the day.

GET A CLUE WITH THE CAMP CLUB GIRLS! Join Sydney and the Camp Club Girls as they embark on a series of clue-filled adventures and crack the case in this entertaining and action-packed 4-in-1 mystery collection.

Is danger lurking in the nation's capital? The Camp Club Girls are determined to discover what's behind the secret messages left at the Vietnam Memorial. Will the girls unravel the confusing clues at the twilight’s gleaming and deflect any danger before the dawn’s early light?

Is a strange creature lurking in the ocean depths? Sydney and Bailey get more than they bargained for on a visit to North Carolina, where they encounter baffling events on the beaches of the Outer Banks. Will the Camp Club Girls discover who—or what—is leaving the peculiar tracks in the sand?

Is there a wild animal on the loose? Or something even more menacing? While Sydney and Alexis are getting back to nature at a lake in northern Wisconsin, mysterious occurrences catch the super sleuths’ attention. Will the Camp Club Girls solve this mystery before their time in the forest is up?

Who's the mysterious woman living in the woods? When Sydney and Elizabeth embark on an adventure in North Carolina, they meet Galilahi, a young girl searching for clues to her Cherokee Indian heritage. Will the Camp Club Girls unveil the necessary clues and help Galilahi find the answers that she so desperately seeks?

Join the Camp Club Girls on a series of clue-filled adventures and cheer them on as they crack the case in this entertaining 4-in-1 story collection. Whether the Camp Club Girls are unraveling confusing clues that leads them through Washington, DC, and up to Fort McHenry, investigating peculiar tracks in sand of the Outer Banks, uncovering the source of menacing sounds in the Wisconsin woods, or helping a young girl search for clues to her Cherokee heritage in North Carolina, you'll encounter six charming, relatable characters who combine their mystery-solving skills to save the day.

Hey, kids - here's a dictionary you'll actually want to read! The Kids' Bible Dictionary features 1,000 of the most important words and names from the Bible - from Aaron, Abba, and Abomination to Zacchaeus, Zeal, and Zion. Each definition is written in understandable - even fun - language to help you know your Bible better. Plenty of pictures and a cool, colorful design make Kids' Bible Dictionary the book for personal reading, school reports, or even stumping your friends with Bible questions.

Families are made in different ways--pregnancy, adoption, fostering--but each excited parent has experienced the desire and the wait that comes before a little one enters their lives. You're My Dream Come True offers a sweet opportunity to show your kids how much you love them--and loved them--long before your eyes first met.

This new board book features adorable animals enjoying the special way God brought them together as a family: "Now every day, I see you grow--the things you do, the things you know--and I'm as happy as can be that God chose you to be with me." Your little ones will love snuggling up in the security of your arms to hear again and again that they've been loved and prayed for even before they were born.

This meaningful board book is created by Jean Fischer and Frank Endersby, the same team who created the bestselling book I Prayed for You.

Spend an entire year of discovering God’s blessings, and develop a lifetime of gratitude.

God loves everyone, and one way He shows His love is through showering us with blessings! Whether it’s with parents who love us, warm sunshine, or the ultimate blessing of His Son, Jesus, God's love is everywhere. When kids see that God is the source of all blessings, it reminds them that all gifts truly do come from God.

Children will learn to not only see God’s blessings in happy days, but to see His loving hand in hard days as well. Developing a habit of giving thanks in all circumstances will lead children to a lifelong spirit of gratitude.

Each devotion features Scripture and a bite-sized message that will keep the attention of young minds. Devotions also have a takeaway to help children engage with the message and apply its meaning to their lives.

Elizabeth, Alexis, Bailey, Sydney, Kate, and McKenzie come from different parts of the country and different backgrounds. But when they meet at Camp Discovery, they learn they all share one thing: an aptitude for intrigue! Soon they’re embroiled in a search for lost jewels and that’s only the beginning! Whether it’s foiling terrorist plots or finding missing millionaires or rescuing sea lions, you’ll love joining the adventure with these precocious preteens, as they pitch in their personal skills to solve the mysteries and save the day! The perfect blend of mystery and mayhemjust for you!

Elizabeth, Alexis, Bailey, Sydney, Kate, and McKenzie come from different parts of the country and different backgrounds. But when they meet at Camp Discovery, they learn they all share one thing: an aptitude for intrigue! Soon they’re embroiled in a search for lost jewels…and that’s only the beginning! Whether it’s foiling terrorist plots or finding missing millionaires or rescuing sea lions, you’ll love joining the adventure with these precocious preteens, as they pitch in their personal skills to solve the mysteries and save the day! The perfect blend of mystery and mayhem—just for you!

Sydney and Elizabeth are on-site in the nation’s capital when odd happenings occur at the Vietnam Memorial. The Camp Club Girls jump into action. They use their special skills to tackle an adventure that leads them not only to Baltimore’s Ft. McHenry, but also to the heart of a terrorist travesty! Can they decipher the clues and save the president before the dawn’s early light?

A unique, beautiful devotional that offers words and themes from one of the best-loved authors of all time.

Charles Dickens was born 200 years ago, yet he crafted stories that translate well to a modern Christian’s daily life. A Charles Dickens Devotional combines 104 short excerpts from his classic novels with Scripture and new devotional thoughts to create meaningful readings for both longtime Dickens fans and Christian readers who are meeting Oliver Twist for the first time.

This title joins A Jane Austen Devotional as part of the new Devotional Classics series and includes excerpts from Dickens' Great Expectations, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol.

This fun and fascinating overview of the most important topics in scripture covers people (from Aaron to Zacchaeus), places (from Antioch to Zion), and things (from altars to worship). Each brief, easy-to-read entry provides a clear description of the topic at hand, along with supporting scripture references. Though kids could read and understand it, 199 Bible People, Places, and Things also promises fresh insights even for longtime readers of the Bible. It's a real value at only $1.99!